On 15 June 1926 the visionary Polish dance teacher Marie Rambert presented a short
ballet  A Tragedy of Fashion  by her pupil Frederick Ashton at the Lyric
Theatre
Hammersmith, marking the birth of what was to become Ballet Rambert, and the most
influential force in the development of British dance. 80 years later, under the
inspired
artistic leadership of Mark Baldwin, Rambert Dance Company remains at the vanguard
of the British dance scene, continually setting higher standards of performance and
innovation.

In the 1960s Rambert began extending the dancers movement vocabulary by adding
modern dance techniques to its classical training. The results enlivened the
companys rich
creative history and expanded the vision for choreographers and dance artists
alike. As a
large-scale touring company, and the UKs flagship for modern dance, Rambert
has been
instrumental in bringing this, the countrys most exciting and fastest growing
artform, to a
continuingly expanding audience all over the country. Rambert is, quite genuinely,
one of
Britains national cultural treasures.

During its 80th anniversary year, Rambert is channelling much of its energy into the
fundraising campaign for its New Home Appeal. Coin Street Community Builders has
generously given the Company a plot of land worth £5million on the South Bank
of London.
Rambert needs to raise £11.5million in order to facilitate this exciting
prospect and realise
its full potential for the next 80 years and beyond.

The new centre, designed by award-winning architects, Allies &amp; Morrison, will
enable
Rambert to develop even more innovative and exciting productions, dancers and
choreographers; provide full access for the first time to Ramberts unique and
extraordinary
archive; and enhance Ramberts community and education programme, providing
opportunities for people to experience for themselves the thrill of modern dance in a
welcoming, inclusive environment. The location of the new building will place
Rambert at
the heart of Londons artistic cultural quarter, in the company of such
illustrious creative
spaces as the National Theatre, the South Bank Centre and Tate Modern.

As Artistic Director Mark Baldwin commented:
This is perhaps the most exciting moment in the Companys modern history,
a realisation of
a dream first dreamt by Marie Rambert, when she founded the Company in 1926. This will
be a laboratory to experiment in, the means to reach into the community we serve,
and at
last a real purpose-built home for the Company.

These new facilities are essential to Ramberts artistic growth and future
output. The
creation of new work is the lifeblood of Rambert: Frederick Ashton made his first
work for
the Company whilst still a student at the age of 21, later going on to be Founder
Choreographer of the Royal Ballet. The vision of Marie Rambert for the Company to be
not
just a great performing ensemble but also a hot-house for new talent has been realised
through the generations to the present day, developing and nurturing some of the
finest
British choreographers of the 20th Century.

Rambert has already raised £3.5m through a variety of sources including Arts
Council,
England, The Foyle Foundation, two lead gift pledges of half a million each from very
generous individual donors, plus other private donations, leaving £8m still to
raise. Rambert
aims to have enough money raised to break ground in 2007.

Notes to Editors
Rambert Dance Company is the oldest dance company in Britain and is celebrating its
80th
anniversary in 2006. It is also Britains flagship for modern dance, employing
a larger group
of artists than any other in the UK. Under its Artistic Director Mark Baldwin,
Rambert Dance
Company tours throughout the United Kingdom and internationally with a wide spectrum
of
large-scale repertoire, including both new commissions and works from the
Companys
heritage. It provides a showcase for British choreography, developing a steady
stream of
exceptional choreographic talent and creating opportunities for work to be seen on
the large
scale. Classical ballet and contemporary dance are taught side by side.
Collaborations with
other art-forms are encouraged. Rambert Dance Company performs to over 50,000 people
each year and reaches over 8,000 individuals through its extensive education programme.

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